ULA’s Atlas V is set to launch ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, targeting 10:04 p.m. ET on Nov. 13, 2025 with a 44‑minute window. The rocket — equipped with five solid rocket boosters — could be visible across most of Florida and, under ideal conditions, into parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, Bermuda and the Caribbean. ULA’s visibility graphic provides timing cues (launch +60s, +90s, +150s, etc.) that help viewers estimate when stage events and the plume may be seen; Tallahassee residents may get a sighting around the booster‑separation window.
Atlas V Launch May Be Visible Across Florida — Possible Sighting in Tallahassee
ULA’s Atlas V is set to launch ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, targeting 10:04 p.m. ET on Nov. 13, 2025 with a 44‑minute window. The rocket — equipped with five solid rocket boosters — could be visible across most of Florida and, under ideal conditions, into parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, Bermuda and the Caribbean. ULA’s visibility graphic provides timing cues (launch +60s, +90s, +150s, etc.) that help viewers estimate when stage events and the plume may be seen; Tallahassee residents may get a sighting around the booster‑separation window.
03:49 AM, 11/13/2025Science
Atlas V to Launch Viasat‑3 F2 — When and Where
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is targeting liftoff of an Atlas V rocket carrying Viasat’s ViaSat‑3 Flight 2 (F2) satellite from Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. After scrubbed attempts on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, ULA set a new target of 10:04 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, with a 44‑minute launch window that closes at 10:48 p.m. ET.
What’s on Board
The payload, ViaSat‑3 F2, is a high‑capacity Ka‑band broadband spacecraft — the second of a planned three‑satellite constellation designed to dramatically increase Viasat’s global broadband capability.
Rocket Configuration and What to Expect
This Atlas V is configured with five side‑mounted solid rocket boosters that give it a quick, bright ascent. If skies are clear, the rapid climb and stage‑separation events can produce a striking visible plume across wide areas of Florida and beyond. Visibility depends on lighting, the exact trajectory and cloud cover.
Estimated Visibility Timeline (based on ULA graphic)
- Launch + 60 seconds: Visible from the Space Coast (Brevard County) and nearby communities — parts of Orlando, the northern Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
- Launch + 90 seconds: Possible payload fairing jettison; visibility expands to Port Orange, much of Volusia County, Martin and St. Lucie counties, Orlando metro areas, Ocala and Lakeland.
- Launch + 150 seconds: Solid rocket booster separation; sightings may reach inland and Gulf Coast communities such as Sebring, Gainesville, Jacksonville, the Tampa Bay region (St. Petersburg, Clearwater), Sarasota, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples. Under ideal conditions, parts of southern Georgia and sections of the Bahamas or Caribbean could see the plume.
- Launch + 210 seconds: Main booster separation window; visibility may extend to Florida’s Big Bend region and potentially Leon County — meaning Tallahassee residents could see the vehicle or plume if conditions are favorable. Sightlines also extend toward the Georgia coast and parts of South Carolina and North Carolina.
- Launch + 270–390 seconds: Continued visibility downrange may reach coastal cities in Georgia (Savannah, Brunswick), South Carolina (Hilton Head, Charleston, Myrtle Beach), North Carolina (Wilmington), and farther afield — including Bermuda and parts of the Caribbean — depending on trajectory and lighting.
Note: These are estimated sightlines drawn from ULA’s published visibility graphic. Actual visibility will vary with the rocket’s final flight profile, time of night, and local weather or cloud cover.
Where to Watch
Best in‑person viewing locations in Florida include the Space Coast (Brevard County), the Fun Coast (Daytona Beach area) and the Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce). Many inland and coastal communities across the state may also have a view at different seconds after launch — see the timeline above for approximate cues.
How to Follow the Launch Live
ULA and mission partners typically provide a live webcast and countdown coverage beginning roughly 90 minutes before the scheduled liftoff. For local coverage and updates, FLORIDA TODAY will carry live reporting and a webcast feed on its Space page and mobile app; check official ULA and Viasat channels for the primary live stream and last‑minute updates.
Photography and Safety Tips
If you plan to watch, arrive early, choose a clear view of the southern‑eastern sky (toward the coast), and bring a camera with a tripod for long exposures. Do not look through magnifying optics that point directly at the sun during daylight launches; for nighttime launches, normal viewing is safe. Always obey local traffic and public‑safety guidance when selecting a viewing location.
Credits
Information and the visibility graphic referenced here were provided by United Launch Alliance. This article originally appeared via FLORIDA TODAY and Tallahassee Democrat coverage of ULA’s Atlas V/Viasat‑3 F2 mission.